The Ulster Unionist Westminster candidate for Strangford has warned the North's electorate that voter apathy could herald a return to direct rule.
In an eve of poll message, Mr David McNarry, said a vote for the DUP was a vote to close the devolved administration at Stormont.
"This Westminster election is the litmus test for devolution. What makes voting in this election so crucial is that devolution could be lost due to voter apathy." He said the UUP was the only unionist party that could maintain devolution and deliver decommissioning. However, the anti-agreement unionist candidate for Fermanagh South Tyrone, Mr James Dixon, claimed voters would reject the UUP's "republican unionist" policies.
"Do not succumb to political spin and media hype, because long after the politicians retire and the newspapers are gone, our decision remains," he said.
The SDLP Westminster candidate for North Belfast, Mr Alban Maginness, urged the pro-agreement electorate to vote for his party. "On the doorsteps people have been saying that they want the agreement to work. Other political parties who have had varied messages over the last number of weeks are coming back to the SDLP message - the agreement is working," he said.
The Alliance party candidate in East Belfast, Dr David Alderdice, called on voters to support him as the strongest pro-agreement candidate in the constituency. "The agreement is under attack and it is vital that people get out and vote," he said.
The Irish Times website, www.ireland.com, continues to provide extensive coverage of the United Kingdom general election and, as the campaign reaches it climax, it will offer round-the-clock coverage. Features include breaking news, analysis, polls, in-depth party profiles and Northern Ireland constituency overviews. The site can be accessed at www.ireland.com/special/uk-election